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Satoshi Versus ‘Infrastructure Bill –

When Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin white paper in October 2008, it likely wasn’t with the idea that governments and central banks needed to recognize, adopt, and regulate Bitcoin for everyone’s benefit. Contrary to popular belief, the Bitcoin white paper and the message in the genesis block can’t be taken away from the idea that central banks and governments need to recognize, adopt, and regulate bitcoin for everyone’s benefit.

Separating Money From the Church of Politics

“A purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.”

Bitcoin white paper

“The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks”

-Bitcoin genesis block’s coinbase parameter message

In the same way that it would be absurd to force Catholic Church beliefs upon others through a government, so it is absurd to think that strangers in this collective abstraction called the “state” should have the ability to decide how we spend our money or interfere with our financial lives.

Imagine a neighbor demanding that you show your wallet daily to them. If the amount exceeds a certain amount you must pay them a percentage. Imagine that there is a neighbor who doesn’t like you, and that you can’t transact with them. For example, lending five dollars to a friend could be considered a violation of the rules and can lead to horrendous, violent consequences. You will be punished for breaking these rules, in terms of your time, money, and health. All of this can be explained by the fact that your neighbor is trying to protect you against bad actors.

Infrastructure Bill Shows Regulators Continue Sapping Bitcoin of Its Utility

This past week many in the crypto community have been in a tizzy over the new $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that was just approved by the U.S. senate. Individual crypto asset owners, miners, app developers, miners and other major players in the crypto industry have all expressed concern at the vague definition of what constitutes a “crypto broker” and said that innovation will soon flee the U.S.’s draconian policies for more friendly and open-minded countries.

Technically, the verbiage of the massive 2,702-page bill could even classify someone who merely facilitates trades of crypto and fiat for a friend regularly as a “broker” responsible for reporting to the IRS. We all know what happens when you get in trouble with your weird neighbors. They’ll show no mercy, and even eat their own. This is not to mention the fact that most of the parties would find it virtually impossible to report on the invasive procedures.

Satoshi Versus the 'Infrastructure Bill' — Political Permission Not Required
H.R. 3684 updates the 1986 Internal Revenue Service tax code to expand the definition of “broker.”

The strangers who live down the street from the big edifices of Washington, D.C. are more important than the neighbor with the crazy idea. Most people believe that the strangers who work in government edifices around the world are special. They are exempted from the common morality, justice and respect we expect of our neighbors. They are gods and have the right to decide how money is spent. Without or with your consent.

A tragedy is that many crypto enthusiasts will allow strangers in D.C. to determine their financial futures. They even beg them for mercy regarding their personal finances.

Perhaps this isn’t the right place to go into the “but it’s just how it works, that’s how society is set-up” objections. This article would be far too long. Suffice to say, there are ultimately two roads we can go down regarding crypto: live and let live via voluntary consent, or violent force against peaceful people. This is the lazy, pragmatic path. However, this pragmatic approach has caused a lot of heartbreaks and tragedy. That’s probably the most understated statement in recorded history.

Satoshi Versus the 'Infrastructure Bill' — Political Permission Not Required
With all the regulatory concern about Bitcoin’s energy consumption, one is led to wonder what the carbon footprint of 20+ years of sustained U.S. bombing in the Middle East adds up to. Image: ART production

The Scapegoating of Bitcoin: Climate Change, Terror, and Money Laundering

With this new U.S. infrastructure bill (now moved to the House of Representatives which is on recess until September 20), the EU’s plans to track all bitcoin transactions and ban anonymous wallets, the massive momentum CBDCs are gaining worldwide as countries responsible for 90% of the world’s GDP research and trial them — it is clear we are on the cusp of something unprecedented. Even the sacred realm of decentralized finance (defi) is no longer safe, with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler recently calling for more authority to regulate defi.

Contrary Satoshi’s vision of peer-to-peer electronic money without the need of a financial institution and in accordance with his vision, the picture is becoming one instead of centralized, coercive, control over private finance. Privacy and autonomy in money, in other words, are being made out as relics to be traded in for antiquated ideas of kings ruling peasants, disguised as modern and sensible “regulation.”

If crypto’s excessive regulations are meant to include the financially excluded and give them access to financial tools, it stands to wonder why debilitating limitations and KYC requirements must be centrally forced upon them, when these matters of security could be handled locally.

In lockstep with the discrepancy-ridden narrative about a deadly disease, we see a new strain of virus grow ever more powerful: an unapologetic strain of economic surveillance and the invasive copping and destruction of innovative financial technologies for people everywhere who are in dire need of economic freedom. This is supposedly because Bitcoin is dangerous for the environment and criminals use it. In psychology, this is what is called “projection.”

But there are cold hard facts:

  • Terror and destruction of the earth are the specialty of the state, not internet money.
  • Destruction of economies and livelihoods is the specialty of the state. Permissionless internet money is saving people from government folly.
  • Statistically, almost all financial crimes are still conducted in fiat currencies. It is not a contest. Reports for 2020 show that crimes in fiat were estimated to account for $1.4 trillion dollars. The same estimates put crypto crime at about $10.5 billion.
  • Slavery and stealing are wrong, no matter what form they take, or how stylish they are made out to be.

I will get to the slavery section at the end. It is clear that, although politicians give democracy endless lip service, the people who are supposed to be representatives of government are becoming increasingly voiceless. While some may be well-intentioned, we should politely ask our dangerous neighbors in D.C. for help. No amount of pleading can make a difference if the channels for change are corrupted. Luckily, crypto doesn’t require political permission.

We need an unanimous vote on the NEW compromise crypto provision. Get in touch with your senator immediately.

Request them to support the Toomey–Lummis–Warner compromise crypto amend, in order to ensure that we don’t significantly expand financial surveillance and harm innovation.

517-200-9518

It takes 30 secs. pic.twitter.com/23tUIh2LP2

— Naomi Brockwell (@naomibrockwell) August 9, 2021

How To Experience Crypto Freedom Now

In three words: Just use it.

Pay for things. Tipp your friends. It can be invested. It should be kept in non-custodial pockets. It can be purchased from individuals face-to-face and online. It can be concealed from corrupt and privacy-invasive governments and institutions. They are ignored. You can build a highly successful start-up. Or, do nothing at all. You can do everything in accordance with legacy finance models, or any other options. I do not care. However, I won’t try to force you to do things my way. This is the game of government.

There is a serious risk of doing peaceful and completely moral things in the current paradigm. This speaks volumes about the current state of the world. It may not be wise for everyone to rush headfirst into the IRS offices shouting that they will never pay them again. However, crypto’s utility has been lost without permissionless, direct economic action.

“Just use your credit card, bro.” Yes, it has lost its utility. But I’m going .”

rich

“I just passed my KYC bro. Now I can use my Visa card to pay for things with crypto as soon as my Paypal crypto account is unfrozen so I can top up the card.”

Yes, you will be rich in a dystopian, closed-down world. Maybe you can spend your fortune on something to help improve your social credit score so you’ll have a chance at flying out of the country for a vacation next year.

Money is a tool that helps us live our lives to the fullest. Without economic freedom, it is impossible to enjoy life’s ups or downs, love, adventure, and fun. The majority of people in cryptocurrency today seem to not understand what freedom is. The philosophical battle is worthwhile for those who do understand, even though it may end up costing us dearly. It may seem paradoxical at first glance, but it is not. Although the battle is over, the war is still on. It’s clear that the idea is already in place, and that’s what’s most important.

“Number Go Up” is therefore very exciting because it gives you greater access to opportunities, tools, and leverage to make the world happier and more free.

To say that these goals — maximum peace, economic freedom and non-violation by the non-violent — would be impossible to achieve because the current system is no longer viable or practical, it’s “utopian” to say they are unworkable. This is like saying that farming depends on slave labor and cannot be changed. This is a lazy excuse. Satoshi Nakamoto was a force for change and helped finance become a more free place. If money can evolve in such a way, so can societies across the globe.

Personally, it doesn’t matter if I win or lose during my life. I’m happy because the idea is here, because I can fight for it, and because I can use crypto however I damn well please, right here, and right now. This is all about human dignity to me. I hope my son’s generation, and all generations after him, will be able to laugh at the absurdity of this whole mess. Let’s get rid of the violence and religion of politics in favor of a free economy.

What are your thoughts on the new U.S. infrastructure bill as it relates to Satoshi Nakamoto’s white paper? Please leave your comments below.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, ART production

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. This article is not intended to be a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any products or services. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. The author and the company are not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from or in connection to the content, goods, or services discussed in this article.

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Vote postponed to renominate SEC commissioner Caroline Crenshaw

Senate Banking Committee chair Sherrod Brown called it a “disgusting smear campaign against Caroline Crenshaw” The vote was postponed minutes before it was due to begin by Brown No date has been set for Crenshaw’s renomination A US Senate vote to renominate Democrat Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been…


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  • Senate Banking Committee chair Sherrod Brown called it a “disgusting smear campaign against Caroline Crenshaw”
  • The vote was postponed minutes before it was due to begin by Brown
  • No date has been set for Crenshaw’s renomination

A US Senate vote to renominate Democrat Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been postponed.

The vote was originally scheduled on December 11; however, it was postponed minutes before it was due to begin, reports Bloomberg. Sherrod Brown, the Senate Banking Committee chair, delayed the vote. When Brown requested the vote occur later that day, Republican senators blocked his request.

Brown later released a statement saying that corporate special interests are running a “disgusting smear campaign against Caroline Crenshaw.”

No date has been set for her renomination.

Earlier this week, crypto and blockchain advocacy groups voiced their opposition to Crenshaw’s renomination.

In a letter to Brown and Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott, the Blockchain Association and the DeFi Education Fund argued that Crenshaw’s actions have undermined Congress’s mandate to establish clear regulatory policies for the crypto industry.

In their letter, they mention Crenshaw’s “continued opposition to the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETP.”

Following the news of Crenshaw’s reappointment, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, took to X to say: “She tried to block the Bitcoin ETFs, and was worse than Gensler on some issues (which I didn’t think was possible).”

A Republican-majority SEC?

The delay to Crenshaw’s renomination opens up the possibility of a three-person Republican SEC once Donald Trump enters the White House in January. Crenshaw’s term at the SEC officially ended in June; however, if she’s renominated she would be the only Democratic SEC commissioner.

The SEC can make up to five commissioners, but no more than three can form the same political party. Current SEC chair Gary Gensler, a Democrat, is stepping down on January 20, and SEC Commissioner Jaime Lizárraga, also a Democrat, will step down on January 17.

Last week, Trump nominated pro-crypto Paul Atkins, a Republican, as chair of the SEC.

Including Gensler and Lizárraga, the three remaining SEC commissioners include Republicans Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda.


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Australia fines Kraken operator $5 million for non-compliance

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  • The Australian Securities and Investment Commission accused the crypto platform of offering a credit facilty that did not comply with regulations.

Kraken crypto exchange’s Australian operator firm has been slapped with a AU$8 million ($5.1 million) fine for non-compliance with Australian regulations.

The Australian federal court fined Bit Trade following a lawsuit by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. In its order, the court said that the Kraken crypto exchange operator must comply with the country’s crypto regulations.

The court ordered that the exchange ought to pay 8 million Australian dollars as a penalty for non-compliance with the local regulations. Notably, Kraken recently announced a licensed broker offering for clients in Australia.

Bit Trade failed to comply with regulations

In August this year, the court ruled in favour of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. The regulator had filed a case accusing Bit Trade of issuing a credit facility without following the legal proceedings.

ASIC argued that Bit Trade did not make the target market determination, a requirement to protect investors. Between October 2021 and August 2023, ASIC stated that the firm offered a margin extension to 1,100 users which cost them a loss of over $5.2 million without following the legal requirements.

The market regulator’s demand was Bit Trade to pay a fine worth 20 million Australian dollars. On their argument, Bit Trade put their limit to a maximum of four million Australian dollars. The penalty follows these proceedings, and the Kraken operator in Australia has 60 days to comply with the order.

In addition, the firm would cover for all the commissions court proceedings costs.

Kraken has faced regulatory hurdles in the US too, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), suing the exchange earlier in November 2023.

SEC’s allegations include Kraken offering of unregistered activities and operating as an unregistered broker. In August 2024, a US court denied the exchange’s motion that sought to dismiss the SEC’s lawsuit.


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